Not-for-profit participatory arts organisation, Made By Mortals, is spreading its wings after joining Virgin Atlantic’s entertainment offering as the airline’s first inflight children’s podcast.
Virgin Atlantic teamed up with the Manchester-based CIC to offer its young passengers an unforgettable flight experience with its award-winning podcast, Armchair Adventures.
Led by directors Paul Hine and Andy Smith, Made By Mortals work alongside elderly people and those with mental health conditions across Manchester and the North West, bringing their experiences to life through participatory music and theatre sessions. Made By Mortals works with a diverse range of people who would typically not engage with the arts and are at risk of exclusion and isolation for many reasons, which became particularly prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When the 2020 pandemic saw millions of people restricted to the walls of their homes and deprived of vital social interactions, Made By Mortals recognised a crucial need for an outlet which people, young and old, could turn to for unity and a sense of support. As a result, Armchair Adventures was born: a fun, interactive podcast for children, created by older people.
The Armchair Adventures podcast, and associated activities including schools’ workshops, art installations, activity packs and a live theatre show, takes listeners on a journey of the imagination. Each adventure is inspired by the experiences, knowledge and passions of its elderly participants and expressed through drama, music, movement, and song.
Andy Smith, Director at Made By Mortals, said:
“When the pandemic hit, we wanted to keep the connection between the older people and younger generations that we had established through our theatre productions and workshops. We wanted to keep giving the participants the purpose many of them gained through creating the productions for the young people.
“We decided that since we couldn’t take the shows out to children anymore, we’d provide a podcast for them, an interactive and fun arts and culture experience. We quickly adapted to Zoom, upskilling the elderly people, setting them up on the software and equipping them with cameras and microphones – that’s where Armchair Adventures was born and even fully produced for its first few episodes!”
Described as a ‘positive podcast’ by BBC Radio 4, Armchair Adventures is a journey of the imagination. It follows the story of Connie, a young girl whose family-run travel agency is at risk of going bust as a result of the pandemic, so working with her customers, who are portrayed by the group’s elderly participants, they create an alternative to a traditional holiday – an adventure from the armchair.
The news of the partnership comes shortly after Armchair Adventures took home the Bronze prize for Best Family Podcast at this year’s British Podcast Awards. This is the latest addition to the podcast’s growing trophy collection, which has previously picked up awards from the Digital City Awards and Manchester Publicity Association Awards.
Cathy Walters, Manager of Inflight Entertainment at Virgin Atlantic, said:
“We love the story of Armchair Adventures, which brings different generations together through this fun, interactive podcast. We’re really proud to have them as part of our entertainment line-up and I’m sure children will enjoy letting their imaginations fly while onboard.”
Paul Hine, Director at Made by Mortals, added:
“The partnership is a really nice fit. Virgin Atlantic is going on a physical journey, and Armchair Adventures is a journey of the imagination. There’s a synergy between the brands, even despite their difference in scale.
“We are determined to change the perception of participatory arts and people viewing it as simply a nice thing to do. Partnering with Virgin Atlantic definitely helps us do that.
“When you bring a group of over 65’s together under one roof, you’ll undoubtably be amazed by the journeys they have been on, the stories they have to tell and the lessons they picked up along the way.
We believe in giving people a place to share their stories which can not only help bring them together and find purpose, but also educate and inspire young people in the process.”
Armchair Adventures took flight with Virgin in July and can now be enjoyed on flights across the world.
Made by Mortals continues to work with groups of people in Manchester to create further episodes for series three of Armchair Adventures, which launches on Thursday 6th October.
